Design Challenge Learning offers several lesson plans correlated to Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards based on STEM concepts. Begin your search by choosing the length of lesson from under an hour, one to two hours, or lessons that cover multiple sessions. Another option provides a five-lesson unit on Seismic Engineering. Each lesson includes questioning prompts, vocabulary, and information on core concepts.

In the Classroom

Take advantage of the many free lesson plans offered at Design Challenge Learning to teach science concepts. Create a class wiki with additional resources for experimenting with science. Not comfortable with wikis? Check out the TeachersFirst Wiki Walk-Through. Have cooperative learning groups create podcasts demonstrating their understanding of one of the concepts. Use a site such as podOmatic, reviewed here, and then post them on the wiki or on your class web page.

Create your own human cyborg while learning about the components and interactions of human body systems as you play Guts and Bolts. Follow the to-do list as you proceed through the 12 steps required to build and bring life to your cyborg. Each step adds a different body system such as respiratory and digestive with the final step providing life to your cyborg. When finished, complete the game quiz to review what you learned!

In the Classroom

Introduce Guts and Bolts on an interactive whiteboard or projector, then allow students to explore on their own. Be sure to share a link to this game on your class website for play at home. Have students create a multimedia presentation using Voicethread, reviewed here. This site allows users to narrate a picture. Challenge students to find photos or diagrams of body systems (legally permitted to be reproduced), and then narrate the photo with essential information.

Take a real-life view of STEM concepts in action with this site detailing US Navy careers and projects. Participate in an interactive activity that takes players to the Navy Proving Grounds to challenge skills in Flight School, Dive Mission, and Sea Trials, or view videos of Navy personnel discussing their STEM careers. Visit the Lesson Plans portion of the site for interactive lessons correlated to math and science standards, including PowerPoints with topics such as robotics and oceanography.

In the Classroom

Take advantage of the free lesson plans and interactives. This site is excellent for enrichment; consider using the lessons with gifted students for independent learning or as project ideas for math and science fairs. Have students make a collaborative, layered, multimedia presentation demonstrating ideas from this site using Ignite, reviewed here. Share videos on your interactive whiteboard as part of any career lessons or discussions. Challenge students to find photos or diagrams about what they learned (legally permitted to be reproduced), and then narrate and annotate the photo with essential information. Use a tool such as Thinglink, reviewed here. With Thinglink, students can also add videos and links to help explain what certain parts of the image are about.

Stem in 30 is an interactive classroom offering 30-minute webcasts for middle school students. Interact with scientists by asking questions, participate in polls, and receive resources for follow-up activities. Don't worry if you can't attend, view the archives of all past presentations to enjoy at your convenience. Previous topics include Moon Rocks!, Time and Navigation, and WW1: How History Shaped Technology. Most archived recordings include correlation to Next Generation Science Standards. If your district blocks YouTube, then the videos may not be viewable. You could always view them at home and bring them to class "on a stick" to share. Use a tool such as KeepVid, reviewed here, to download the videos from YouTube.

In the Classroom

Share webinars on your class website for students to view at home. Check the site's homepage for upcoming webinars, then participate with your class. Check Twitter to see if your class can follow any of the presenting scientists. If you are lucky enough to live in the Washington, DC area, contact the museum to attend a live taping. After viewing a webinar, have students create a multimedia presentation using Voicethread, reviewed here. Voicethread allows users to narrate a picture. Challenge students to find a photo (legally permitted to be reproduced), and then narrate the photo as if it is a news report. STEM in 30 is also a great resource for gifted students to get involved with their own challenges and pursuits.

HomeAdvisor presents a series of lessons, activities, projects, and videos for grades K-12 introducing young people to the world of construction. Choose a grade level band to begin browsing content. Topics include real-world activities such as viewing and building bird houses, scientific experiments to learn about erosion, and analyzing electric circuits.

In the Classroom

Take advantage of the many free lesson plans and activities to incorporate STEM activities and Maker projects into your classroom. Ask a parent volunteer, local contractor, or naturalist to come in and help with activities. Have students create blogs to share their projects using Throwww, here. This site allows you to create "quick and easy" blogs to be used one time only. A unique URL is provided, and this site is as easy as using a basic Word program!

Emoji Science takes the simple and understandable world of emojis to explain complex science concepts. Explore the Emoji Table of Experiments to find videos (with special guests), do it yourself science experiments, and more. The broad range of topics includes content such as super materials, the human brain, and plants. Scroll down the homepage to find the link to Emoji Education that includes lesson plans aligned to standards. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable. You could always view them at home and bring them to class "on a stick" to share. Use a tool such as KeepVid, reviewed here, to download the videos from YouTube.

In the Classroom

Take advantage of the free lesson plans available on Emoji Science. Enjoy exploring the site with students on an interactive whiteboard or allow them to explore on their own. Use this site to introduce science concepts in an entertaining way. At the end of your unit, have cooperative learning groups create podcasts demonstrating their understanding of one of the concepts. Use a site such as PodOmatic, reviewed here. Have students create a multimedia presentation of science topics using Voicethread, reviewed here. This site allows users to narrate a picture. Challenge students to find a photo (legally permitted to be reproduced), and then narrate the photo as if it is a news report.

Nature Video YouTube Channel brings you the best and latest science news and information videos. Browse through to view the most recent and popular uploads or choose the playlists to view specific content. Playlists include topics such as technology, astronomy, and health. Be sure to subscribe to receive updates about new content. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable. You could always view them at home and bring them to class "on a stick" to share. Use a tool such as KeepVid, reviewed here, to download the videos from YouTube.

In the Classroom

Flip your classroom and use a video as homework. Have students take notes on the material and write down questions they still have and topics that confuse them. Or, use a tool like eduCanon, reviewed here, for students to pause videos and ask or answer questions right on the video. These activities can uncover misconceptions. Show the video to the class, and then discuss the concept at length. To share a single video from this site without all the YouTube clutter, use a tool such as SafeShareTV, reviewed here, and create a shortcut to the SafeShare page directly on the desktop. For more advanced classes, provide time for students to choose a video to view and research the underlying concept.

At Good Thinking find short videos addressing common misconceptions about science topics and pedagogical subjects such as student motivation. Watch the introductory video for a complete overview of the offerings. In addition to videos, Good Thinking offers curriculum resources and lessons. Check the box for Free Resources to narrow your search for only the free materials available. If your district blocks YouTube, the intro video may not be viewable. You could always view it at home and bring it to class "on a stick" to share. Use a tool such as KeepVid, reviewed here, to download the video from YouTube.

In the Classroom

Take advantage of the many free class materials available on the site for use in lessons and activities. Use this site as the starting point for individual or group projects. Share videos on your class website for students to view at home. Then have students create an online or printed comic comparing misconceptions to the truth using Write Comics, reviewed here or Printable Comic Strip Templates, reviewed here. Have students create a word cloud of the important terms they learn from this site using a tool such as Wordle, reviewed here, or WordItOut, reviewed here. Be sure to share professional information with peers during professional development sessions or grade level discussions.

National Geographic offers this kid-centric site as a companion to National Geographic Kids and Little Kids magazines. The focus is on information about animals, geography, and the natural world presented in a fun and engaging format. Use this busy interactive site for free, register to gain access to more content. Buttons on the home page lead to short videos, images, stories, polls, news bites, games, and activities. The site includes heavy advertising for the magazine subscriptions. A search box at the top right allows for exploration of the extensive content. Students may submit photos or comments to the "My Shot" picture gallery all of which are selected to be posted by site administrators.This site includes advertising.

In the Classroom

This site is perfect for interactive whiteboards or projectors. Display the site on your whiteboard to use as a learning center for students. Select videos for lesson introductions or flipped or blended learning activities. For language arts, practice finding the main idea or summarizing stories using these interesting informational texts. ESL/ELL learners can also find accessible news stories here. Choose words from stories to include with weekly spelling tests or as vocabulary builders. Assign different stories to groups of students to summarize and present to the class. Challenge cooperative learning groups to create videos about any article on the site. Upload images (use Creative Commons or other copyright-safe pictures) and use Moovly, reviewed here, for this project. Then share the videos on a site such as TeacherTube, reviewed here. Use the site for learning games that will appeal more to younger students. Preview all video since some feature animals hunting which may upset some students.

Don't let the business in the name fool you, this YouTube channel is all about science! Watch videos with the latest news in science, space, and medicine with new content added each week. Scroll through the page to find the latest videos or explore playlists with topics such as Explainers and Psychology. Most videos run less than three minutes in length, making them perfect for a snack-sized bite of science information! If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable. You could always view the videos at home and bring them to class "on a stick" to share. Use a tool such as KeepVid, reviewed here, to download the videos from YouTube.This site includes advertising.

In the Classroom

Share a video with students once a week to help all of you learn about the latest information from the world of science. Flip your classroom and use a video as homework. Have students take notes on the material and write down questions they still have and topics that confuse them. Or, use a tool like eduCanon, reviewed here, for students to pause videos and ask or answer questions right on the video. These activities can help uncover student misconceptions. Show the video to the class, and then discuss the concept at length.

This YouTube video takes viewers behind the scenes to learn about filming Beluga Whales as they gather in Canada each summer. Although the video is quite short, there is extensive information about the project included in the video summary. If your district blocks YouTube, then the video may not be viewable. You could always view the video at home and bring it to class "on a stick" to share. Use a tool such as KeepVid, reviewed here, to download the video from YouTube.This site includes advertising.

In the Classroom

Share this video on an interactive whiteboard or projector, or ask students to watch at home as an introduction to a unit on ocean animals or climate change. Challenge students to research whales further and learn more about their migrations and interactions as a unit. Have students use Vibby, reviewed here, to grab more information from other YouTube videos to share with the class about whale behavior. Have students create maps using Animaps, reviewed here, to show locations of whales around the world and their migration patterns. Students can add text, images, and location stops with Animaps!

GeoInquiries offers standards-based collections for teaching map-based concepts. Choose from several different content topics such as Earth Science, US History, and more. Locate the complete list of available collections on the left side of the homepage. After choosing a broad topic, select a specific activity, then click to open the PDF for easy access to content. In addition to the GeoInquiries, this site also includes several additional lengthier activities including all necessary teacher and student materials.

In the Classroom

Take advantage of the free lessons offered on GeoInquiries for use in your classroom. Divide students into groups to participate in different activities or use as enrichment for gifted students to complete independently. When finished with your inquiries, challenge students to create a presentation using Prezi, reviewed here, demonstrating information learned.

SciTech Daily is a digest of the latest science news from around the globe. Information comes from major magazines, international newspapers, and more. Browse through the site by topic or choose links to view the latest or most popular articles. Use the search bar to look for specific information on the site. Subscribe using your email to receive a daily digest of all of the latest site additions.This site includes advertising.

In the Classroom

SciTech Daily is a great addition to science classrooms as a source of current information. Bookmark this site on classroom computers and allow students to explore and find information of interest. Share pertinent articles on your interactive whiteboard to discuss together. Use SciTech Daily in your English/Language Arts classroom as an excellent resource for non-fiction reading. Have students create a newspaper with science news using a site such as Zinepal, reviewed here. Click to "Start with a blank e-Book." Have students collect media (videos and more) from multiple online sources including SciTech Daily to show their research findings using a tool such as Dragontape, reviewed here. If articles are too long for some readers, consider using Skim.it, reviewed here, a Chrome extension that reduces articles into a 100-word summary.

Read about the conservation and preservation of the World's Biomes. Click on one of the six biomes to see a very readable summary about the characteristics and facts of that biome. This page is part of a larger site, The Museum of Paleontology, reviewed here.

In the Classroom

Use this site as one of multiple sources for researching biomes or a particular biome. Show students how to take Cornell (two column) notes and summarize using this information. Use a tool like 43 Folders Cornell Notes, reviewed here, to help explain Cornell Notes to students. Pair weak readers with strong readers for this activity.

Learn how the human body works with this playlist of videos from TED-Ed. Short videos discuss topics such as Why Do Blood Types Matter? and What Does the Liver Do? Choose individual videos for viewing, or view all automatically with this playlist. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable. You could always view the videos at home and bring them to class "on a stick" to share. Use a tool such as KeepVid, reviewed here, to download the videos from YouTube.

In the Classroom

Use videos as an introduction to human body lessons or flip your classroom and have students watch videos before introducing lessons. Share a link on your class website for students to view at home. Have students create a simple infographic sharing their findings using Piktochart, reviewed here.

Discover, create, and share digital resources from the Smithsonian Museum, the National Zoo, and nine major research centers with this visually appealing site. Use the search feature to find digital resources including photos, recordings, videos, and text. Sign up to create your own collections, including those found on the site and your own resources. Add annotations and develop quizzes. Easily share your creations or curated collections using social networking links provided. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable. You could always view them at home and bring them to class "on a stick" to share. Use a tool such as KeepVid, reviewed here, to download the videos from YouTube.

In the Classroom

The Smithsonian Learning Lab is a must-add to your list of classroom bookmarks! Search for collections and information throughout the year on all topics. Add a link to classroom computers for the entire site or specific collections. Be sure to take advantage of the many features of this site to create customized collections, then have students add additional resources. Have students create quizzes for review of topics. Challenge students to create a simple infographic sharing their findings using Easel.ly, reviewed here.

Tread Lightly! is an organization devoted to balancing the needs of outdoor recreation with environmental stewardship. Learn about conservation methods and ideas through Tread Lightly!'s blog and education resources. Be sure to follow links to teaching resources including many files available for free download. There are also videos to watch under the Education tab. If your district blocks YouTube; the videos may not be viewable. You could always view them at home and bring them to class "on a stick" to share. Use a tool such as KeepVid, reviewed here, to download the videos from YouTube.This site includes advertising.

In the Classroom

Take advantage of the many free materials for use in classroom lessons about the environment. Have students explore the Quick Tips portion of the site, then create their own environmental Quick Tips online posters individually or together as a class using a tool such as Web Poster Wizard, reviewed here, or PicLits, reviewed here. Consider becoming a Tread Lightly! member as a class or school and apply for a recreation stewardship grant to organize a clean-up day in your community.

Study Jam offers engaging instruction and review activities in both math and science. Some sample science topics include plants, human body, the solar system, weather, matter, and more. Math topics include numbers (place value, number lines, estimation), algebra, addition/subtraction, problem solving, and others. Don't miss the "Jams" sure to excite your students to learn new skills in a musical and entertaining manner. Key vocabulary is presented along with a short video explanation of each topic. In addition to the video, there is an option to test your own ability. Each topic can also be printed to use in the classroom and there is a link to related "jams."

In the Classroom

Excite your students with the Jams! Share the Jam videos on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Have students sing along and learn more about science and math. Especially younger students will enjoy this feature. Create a link to the site on your classroom website or blog for students to use for review and practice at home. Use the many topics available to differentiate for all students in your classroom. Create learning centers using this site or use it in on individual laptops. Print out the quizzes for students to take as an assessment.

Do you love to learn crazy facts and obscure information? The Today I Learned YouTube playlist from National Geographic is perfect for you! Each video is under three minutes, ideal for quick bits of information. Learn why the brain is wrinkly or why the ocean is salty and much more. This playlist is frequently updated, so be sure to return to continue adding to your knowledge of obscure facts! If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable. You could always view the videos at home and bring them to class "on a stick" to share. Use a tool such as KeepVid, reviewed here, to download the videos from YouTube.This site includes advertising.

In the Classroom

Create a link to this playlist on classroom computers for students to view during center time or share a video of the week on your interactive whiteboard. Use these for journal prompts, quick writes, or topics to research. Have students create an annotated image of information learned including text boxes and related links using a tool such as Thinglink, reviewed here. To share a single video from this site without all the YouTube clutter, use a tool such as SafeShareTV, reviewed here, and create a shortcut to the SafeShare page directly on the desktop.

Discover and watch publicly funded radio and television programs from America's past with the American Archive of Public Broadcasting. Built as a means to preserve public broadcast programs from the 1940's through the present, over 7000 programs are available for streaming with additions ongoing. In addition to streaming programs, this site also includes curated exhibits on topics of historical significance, such as Climate Change and Voices from the Southern Civil Rights Movement.

In the Classroom

Bookmark the American Archive of Public Broadcasting for use as primary source material for classroom lessons. Browse by topic or keywords to find videos to share on your interactive whiteboard or share a link on your class website for students to view at home. Have students use Fakebook, reviewed here, to create a "fake" page similar in style to Facebook about an important figure from America's recent past. Have students create timelines (with music, photos, videos, and more) using Capzles, reviewed here, to demonstrate what they learned from one of the radio programs, videos, or exhibits.